This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Civilian casualties, need for a brokered ceasefire take a back seat to Harper government's cheering for Israel from the sidelines.

A Palestinian chants during a funeral procession in Gaza City on Sunday at the grave of a member of the family killed in Saturday’s Israeli airstrike. The strike hit the home of a cousin of Gaza police chief Taysir al-Batsh and damaged a nearby mosque as evening prayers ended Saturday, killing at least 18 people, wounding 50 and leaving some people believed to be trapped under the rubble. (Lefteris Pitarakis / AP)

As the world watched the civilian death toll in Gaza climb over the weekend, the international response was largely built on three pillars.

Most capitals emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself, the need to protect innocent civilians and the need for a mutual ceasefire.

But in Canada, the tone and the message were different.

Israel had not just the right to defend itself, but the obligation, according to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

The end to the conflict was the responsibility of Hamas, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.

Article Continued Below

And neither man expressed much in the way of optimism for a cessation of hostilities or concern for the number of civilians who have perished under the Israeli bombardment, a number which could be three out of every four of the more than 160 killed so far in the Gaza.

▶

July 9, 2014. The Harper government is expressing support for the current Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has killed dozens of people. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says he wants to see Hamas rocket attacks on Israel stop.(CP)

There had been a knock on the roof at the home for those with mental and physical challenges, but staff ignored it, so certain were they that they could not possibly be on the Israeli hit list.

The attack killed two residents and wounded three.

Canada’s two opposition parties have been more circumspect, but neither was eager to take on Ottawa’s official position and that may mark a sea change in the country’s Middle East position which is less and less a Conservative position and increasingly an all-party consensus.

One Liberal MP who is in Tel Aviv, Newfoundland’s Gerry Byrne, watched Israel’s Iron Dome repel an attack, then took to social media to praise the courage of individual Israelis in the face of terrorism.

Internationally, the tone was more measured than the end-game message from Ottawa.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, while Israel has the right to defend itself, the world has “deep concern” over civilian casualties and the entire world wanted to see a de-escalation.

Germany’s foreign minister is expected in Israel Monday for talks with the Israelis and the Palestinians. France has also signalled it will help broker a ceasefire.

But any sign of anything but unwavering Israeli support invites criticism from the right.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama is facing withering criticism from Republicans for what they believe is a tepid response that also spoke of the protection of civilians and a call for de-escalation.

In Ottawa, mutual ceasefires and peace talks are only for the weak-kneed and faint of heart.

Of course, we have long since forfeited any role in forging a peace in the region.

“Failure by the international community to condemn these reprehensible actions would encourage these terrorists to continue their appalling actions,’’ Harper said.

“Canada calls on its allies and partners to recognize that these terrorist acts are unacceptable and that solidarity with Israel is the best way of stopping the conflict.’’

Tim Harper is a national affairs writer. His column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. tharper@thestar.ca Twitter:@nutgraf1

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com